Playing Catch-up

Only two weeks till school's back in session and I can't figure out where the time has gone! I feel like I'm so busy with 3 that I'm not getting many pics (and I've ALWAYS harassed my mom about not doing/having pics/scrapbooking me since I was #4 child.) Here is part 1 of a few pics from this summer, but first I need to update on baby boy.
H is now 4 1/2 months. He weighed in at 16 lbs at 4 mos. check-up and has since been eating a little baby food. We've had peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and bananas up to this point. Oh, and rice cereal, but I think he may have a little allergy to it, so I quit it. He rolled over for the first time on our anniversary, June 10th. His first little tooth (yes, folks, that's right - a tooth!) broke through around July the 8th and the second one came through this weekend. I can't believe it!

Update

Not sure why the pic on the last post was so big, so I just deleted it. So far, I've started painting the walls (not so sure about the color, yet) and decided to tile a backsplash. Will post finished pics when I get it all done!

My Mother's Eyes

I have my Mother's eyes and I feel like I'm beginning to see through them. You see, I found this picture of my mom with my oldest brother, Jimmie. I'm not sure if it's taken in the hospital or at home, but he's obviously a newborn. When I found this it made me tear up. I know that in the blink of an eye, I, too, will be looking at pictures of my children & comparing their features to that of my grandchildren. My heart already aches at the thought of everyone growing up. I just need everything to slow down a little. Let me soak up every time those tiny fingers curl around mine. Let my ears catch every sweet, little laugh. Let my arms embrace every hug and heal every ache. Please, Lord, let me keep all these memories and cherish these wonderful years.

1st Bath

These are pictures from H's first bath. This "first" actually occured two weeks ago, but I've been a little behind on posts --- not to mention laundry, thank-you notes, grocery shopping, etc, etc.....
Anyway, as you can see from the pics, he's not too happy about this strange, cold experience. Even afterwards, you can see that he is still a little miffed :)

Wow!

All I can say is, "Wow!" I just checked Kate's blog and saw that she had 93 comments on her last post. I started reading through them and just started crying (as usual.)
The difference this time is that I am crying not out of tears of sadness, but from feeling moved. I am overjoyed that Lucy is celebrating her 5th birthday and am completely in awe of how one little girl has ignited so much prayer and love across a nation. There are people sending prayers from New York to Texas to Illinois to the Carolinas. Wow!
Go Lucy Go- and Happy Birthday!

1 Week

I can't believe it's already been one week since H's birth. Here are a few pics of from the hospital. He seriously did not look like a newborn next to those other babies :)

A Week Full of Prayer

This has been a week full of emotion and frequent praying. As Wednesday came around, I found myself fearing the surgical process of having a baby, anxious to meet him, and prayerful that he would be healthy. It was a scary process with some difficulties, but we made it through. As soon as I met him, I fell in love. He is beautiful.
That night, though, I received the heartbreaking news about Lucy. I just sat in my hospital bed crying for my friends.
Thursday night brought another round of fear with tornado sirens going off and the hospital making us get in the bathrooms - btw, not easy after c-section. I worried about my children at home and about this new little one and my friends. But, like so many of life's little storms, we made it through.
This week, you'll find two bows at my house. The blue one to celebrate the life of my own child and the pink/purple one to celebrate and pray for the life of a friend's child. I pray that God will bless all of our families with health and healing.

Is It Time?

That's the question I've been getting all week. At 39 weeks today, I feel bigger than ever, but also better. The only problem is that everyone at my house still isn't. In the past few weeks of baby preparation, I have Cloroxed this house down several times. Despite my efforts, everyone continues to get sick. It seems like someone always has a fever or sore throat or vomiting. I really don't think I can take much more!
Baby Update: This week's doctor visit included an ultrasound to check for position. He has been transverse (sideways) and has finally turned head down. The first question the sonographer asked me was if I passed my glucose test! She says he's going to be a big boy! Ultrasound said 9 lbs 2 oz, but it can be off a little.
Oh! And, I need help! With the boys, we used Playtex Premium Nurser bottles. Well, those are all long gone and there seem to be a LOT of new types of bottles out there. Tell me your favorite!!!

38 Week Update

Today, I'm officially 38 weeks. I also have a terrible cold and we have more snow. I snapped a couple of pics from the door since I just can't make it out there between being sick and my huge stomach!
As I watched the boys play on the fort, I think about the new man about to come into my life. I've been getting excited about having a baby again (it's been almost 4 years!) and wondering who this little man will be. But, as the date approaches and the inevitability of another C-section creeps into my thoughts, I begin to get a little scared. Funny how things seem "everyday" and more minor when it's happening to someone else :)
Doctor update: I decided (a while back) to push my delivery all the way to my due date in hopes of some sort of spontaneity. Maybe my water would break and I would get that excitement of rushing to the hospital that you see on so many movies! What was I thinking?!? I could be doing this next week! Now, I haven't done ANYTHING and it seems that my little one is sideways (can only be delivered via C-sect.) I told Doc that I would just go ahead and take the next week delivery date, but it's too late now. They're all booked up. Looks like I've got to stick it out two more weeks.

Almost 37 weeks!

Honestly, couldn't see these spots on the mirror until I saw the pic!!!

This pregnancy seemed like the gestational length of an elephant for a while there. Getting pregnant at the end of the school year left me sick through the hot summer months and not wanting to be in a bathing suit. Then school started and the "what to wear" phase began. Not quite big enough for full blown maternity and not small enough for regular clothes. Then came E's birthday (and cake,) Halloween (and candy,) Thanksgiving (big meals,) and Christmas (enough said.) Surely, I must have gained more than both previous pregnancies combined!
Anyway, going through all these different seasons and holidays sure stretched it out, but now there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. I'm going to enjoy these last few weeks of feeling that baby move and wiggle, the extra attention from hubby, and seeing my body like this for the last time. I'm excited to see him and hold him, but have to admit to a little sadness over thinking about doing this for the last time.

"Toothless"

Yes, that's right, we lost our first tooth! E's favorite movie is "How to Train Your Dragon" and the dragon's name is Toothless, hence his new nickname from me :)

I am a little ashamed about the story behind losing this first tooth. Our last visit to our favorite dental hygentist revealed that it had "a little wiggle to it," as she put it, but I didn't know it had gotten this loose since. The boys were eating a snack in the kitchen the other night and E came walking in with it in his hand and said, "Look, Mom! I took a bite and my tooth came out!" Honestly, though, I think he must have dislodged it and then pulled it himself b/c there was a little blood on his shirt.
We've waited a couple of days before putting it under our pillow because he wanted to show several people his tooth --- which I have to say, is the tiniest looking little thing! Well, it's going under that pillow tonight. Wonder how much money the tooth fairy leaves for a "first" tooth?

Getting There

With only 6 weeks to go, I took advantage of Monday's snow day to try and work a little more on the nursery. I added this tree to the wall and started his name, but decided I need a different color for the name. Still need a rug, curtains, rocking chair, canvases, etc. Wow! When I make an actual list, it sounds like a lot.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Sorry, for the cheesey title, but that's the song that jumps in my head when I think about what we're doing. This past May we painted over the stripes in what had been the "nursery" to both boys as I decided it was time for my little man to have a big boy room. After converting the crib to the full size bed it can become and buying new Star Wars bedding and all that goes with it, I found out I was pregnant again! After much debate on beds, rooms, etc., I made the decision to go ahead and paint again and to get new bedding. After all, this would be the last nursery, right? I've decided to go monochromatic....greyish white against white shadow boxing. As you can see, the room was navy before (which I loved!,) but it just didn't work with the new bedding. And, I just didn't want to paint another shade of blue --again! Here are beginning pics --- one coat of paint, more to come!